About Castle Bijaipur
Standing high on a plateau of the great Vindhychal ranges is the 16th century Castle Bijaipur. Having been occupied by Kings and Queens for centuries, the present Maharaja (a great lover of yoga) has opened the doors of his exquisite castle to the public. The hospitality is so wonderful you are made to feel like a Maharaj yourself from the moment you arrive.

Surrounded by villages and breathtaking views of the valley, this really is a very special place.

The daily programme
You will spend eight nights at the Castle and two nights in luxurious tents.

The Castle rooms are all clean, well maintained and have both modern comforts and the elegance of the past. You will camp (in style) by the lotus lake, amidst the stillness and beauty of the Rajasthan countryside.

There will be two yoga classes each day on the shaded roof terrace of the Castle with stunning views. There will be a two hour morning asana class often including meditation and pranayama. The evening class will be more restorative and will usually last 1.5 hours. There will be one yoga free day and the classes will be suitable for all levels and yoga experience.

You may also spend a little time during the holiday, whilst staying by the lake, exploring the beauty of silence.

Things to do
Castle Bijaipur offers an action-packed holiday or a lazy pool-side holiday – the choice is yours.

There are jeep safaris to experience nearby wildlife and bird-life, treks to surrounding villages, temples and wonderful Marwari horses. You can explore the countryside on day trips to Chittorgarh Fort and the stunning city of Udaipur and there are opportunities for cooking lessons and bicycle rides.

There is no shortage of things to do in and around the Castle; even just a stroll into the surrounding village is a feast for the body, mind and soul…talking of which, massages and other treatments are also available at an extra cost.

Accommodation
The hotel itself has a wonderful swimming pool, beautiful gardens to sit in and delicious food.

The rooms are all clean, well maintained and have both modern comforts and the elegance of the past. You can share a room or have single accommodation.

Reviews from Recent Retreats with Jess

There is this a review from a blog,

Yoga with Jess

Jess Horn is one of the best yoga teachers I have even been taught by.

Her voice is so relaxing, it feels like being in a meditation session at the same time. She also runs yoga retreats, again its on my to do list.

And then from my retreats:

“Hi Jess. Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend retreat. It couldn’t have been more perfect – the yoga was really powerful and pushed me deeper than I could ever get in a regular class and the close attention and corrections made me feel like I was being completely looked after, the food was delicious, the cottage cosy and the rest of the group made the weekend full of laughter and fun. I can’t wait for the next one.”

Helen Abraham – Photographer

“Thank you Jessica Horn for the most wonderful w’end yoga retreat at Wasing Estate. Feeling so calm & happy (& excited about the beginning of a new journey). I had literally no yoga & meditation experience before the w’end yet this didn’t matter at all, the retreat is for all levels of yogis. Jess is a truly fantastic teacher.”

Thank you

Helen Wrigglesworth – Stylist

“Jess is an amazing teacher as we were a mixed group and she was able to accommodate all levels, going deeper in poses if she sensed people were able. She guides you through the poses with a reminder of breathing which I personally loves as it connects the mind and body energy. I came away feeling that mind and body were awoken, feelingly lighter and refreshed”

Karen Findlay – Interior Designer

Thanks for such a wonderful weekend. I loved every part of it and really got the chance to wind down and tune into my body, surrounded by lovely people and eating such yummy food! The yoga was really energising and deeply relaxing on Sunday – just what I needed. I will keep my eyes open for the next one.

Monisha – Lawyer

The weekend was fantastic – great yoga, lovely people, amazing food and the most restful & relaxing setting imaginable. Jess’s happy, relaxed & fun teaching style meant I made the most of a pretty packed itinerary – never feeling overwhelmed, but pushed to a comfortable limit. I also had the chance to focus on (and getting a couple of small personal victories) with poses that have been bugging me for a while. I would go back in a heart-beat. Anyone who has ever even remotely day dreamed of going on a yoga retreat should give it a go. It’s good for the body and soul.

Tim Payne

What can I say? What a wonderful weekend! My first ever retreat and I LOVED every minute! From the warm welcome to my gorgeous room with the comfiest bed and beautiful linen. The Farmhouse was perfect. Having not practiced yoga for a while I was slightly nervous about a two and a half hour session but with your warmth and beautiful smile guiding us through every pose, I found the practise fly by.

Sarah Vaux – Wedding Planner

“Wow thank you for such a magical and special weekend!! I knew I would enjoy myself but I didn’t expect to have such a memorable time and to fall in love with yoga so much! I was apprehensive about doing such long sessions but the time flew and I enjoyed every minute! I missed my daily session so much I went to a lunchtime class on Monday! I felt much more confident with the positions, my alignment and breathing! I have been raving to everyone who will listen about your weekend”